Thousands Of Us Could Be Sick And Not Know

Imagine A Life Without Beer

It's feared more than a quarter of a million Australians have coeliac disease and don't know it.

Some new estimates from Coeliac Australia have 1 in 70 Australians suffering the condition, and about 80% of those are undiagnosed.

Sufferers of coeliac disease are unable to eat gluten - a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats. Currently there is no cure and the only treatment is a strict gluten free diet for life. If left untreated, it can cause chronic ill health and lead to liver disease and cancer of the bowel.

Quick Facts

Family members of people with coeliac disease have a 1 in 10 chance of also being affected.

15 per cent of people with coeliac disease have another autoimmune disease.

Untreated, coeliac disease is associated with a three-fold increased risk of autoimmune disease (such as autoimmune thyroid or liver disease and type 1 diabetes), osteoporosis, malignancy (such as lymphoma) and up to a four-fold increase in mortality.

Early diagnosis and treatment of coeliac disease may avoid many such complications.

Severity of symptoms does not reflect damage to the small bowel.

Some patients do not exhibit symptoms but may have fertility issues or early onset osteoporosis.

Undiagnosed coeliac disease can cause a wide range of other conditions such as dental enamel defects, mouth ulcers, alopecia and osteoporosis.

If you are worried you might be at risk, there's now a quick online test to help check out your symptoms at Coeliac Australia's website. If risk factors are identified, you can download a letter to take to their GP with details of their assessment.